Manchester United have been handed a double boost in their transfer pursuit of Benfica striker Darwin Nunez.
The Uruguayan international is expected to be one of Europe's most sought-after strikers over the coming months after a sensational season in the Primeira Liga and Champions League and is high on United's transfer shortlist.
Nunez bagged an impressive 34 goals in all competitions this season – including in both legs of their European clash against Liverpool at the quarter-final stage, taking his goal tally in the competition to six for the campaign – while he recently handed United a transfer boost by confirming he was changing his agent this summer.
The striker finished as the top scorer in Primeira Liga despite Benfica enduring a hugely disappointing domestic campaign in which they finished a distant third to rivals FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon. He is now one of the hottest rated players in the summer transfer window with the Lisbon giants expected to cash in on his services.
Interim Benfica boss Nelson Verissimo recently claimed that an exit for Nunez was likely and while he warned that the striker would likely come at a significant cost to any buyer – with a reference to the £106million transfer fee that took Joao Felix from the club to Atletico Madrid three years ago – it is now suggested that the striker would only cost half that fee.
As reported by The Athletic, Nunez would command a fee of £51million (€60m) this summer – significantly lower than had been previously suggested. This news is likely to delight United and any other suitors as it means that the Uruguayan suddenly becomes attainable financially.
Have Your Say! Which players should be top of Man Utd’s wanted list this summer? Tell us what you think here.
Furthermore, that report claims that Benfica have identified Austria international Sasa Kalajdzic as the replacement for Nunez – the Stuttgart striker is highly valued by Benfica’s incoming coach Roger Schmidt. Benfica are likely to move early to land the replacement for Nunez, meaning that they would instantly be open for negotiations for the South American.
The Uruguayan has emerged as a transfer target for United, who are in the market for a new striker this summer. Edinson Cavani’s contract at Old Trafford expires this summer and the long-term futures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford are also uncertain.
Nunez was one of the stars of this season’s Champions League and most notably in the group stage victory over Barcelona, where the striker bagged a brace in the 3-0 win over the Catalan side. His biggest goal came in the Round of 16 win over Ajax, before scoring in both legs of the quarter-final against Liverpool – in which Benfica were defeated 6-4 on aggregate.
